Folding device of a running exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A folding device of a running exercise machine comprises a first moveable linkage and a second moveable linkage which are symmetrically arranged. Front ends of the first moveable linkage and second moveable linkage are symmetrically arranged at front ends of the two plates at two sides of a bottom of a front frame of the running platform as movable fulcrums. The rear ends of the first moveable linkage and second moveable linkage are symmetrically and pivotally installed to predetermined positions at an inner side of the lower rod of the base as two fixed fulcrums. When the running platform is folded or flatly arranged, by the movable fulcrums and fixed fulcrums, the force applied is dispersed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a running exercise machine, and particularly to a folding device of a running exercise machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] A prior art running exercise machine is disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. 375944. In that, a base is pivotally installed with a running belt and a lifting device is installed between a running platform and a base for adjusting the tilt angle of the running platform so as to acquire different effects. The feature of the prior art is that the lifting device has two lifting rods, a driving device, two sliding tracks, one driving device and one telescopic rod. The lifting rods are pivotally installed at an inner side of the front end of a rod of the base, and another end thereof is connected to lateral rods of the running platform. The driving device is pivotally connected to the connection of the lifting rod and the running platform by a driving rod. Another end of the two driving rods are firmly secured with a displacement rod. Two ends of the displacement rod are pivotally installed with pulleys, respectively. The sliding track is firmly secured to an inner side at an rear end of two bottom rods of the base for installed the pulleys of the driving device. The driving device is formed by a two directional rotating motor and a speed change device and is firmly secured at a front side of the base. The telescopic rod is a screw rod and is installed within a sleeve. One end of the screw rod is firmly secured to a speed change device and is driven to rotate by the device. The sleeve is intersected with the displacement rod of the driving device. One end of the screw rod is firmly secured to the speed change device and is driven to rotate by the device. The sleeve is intersected and connected with the displacement rod of the driving device. By above components, the motor and the speed change device drives the screw rod to rotate so the screw rod is telescopic moved in the sleeve. Furthermore, the driven device is pushed and pulled so that the lifting rod rotates along the bottom rod of the base to lift or descend the running platform.

[0003] In above structure, a driving device is used to adjust the angle of the running platform. However, the structure has the following defects. One is that only one supporting point is at two front sides of the running platform and the single one pivotal connection of the base. When the running platform lifts upwards, the only one supporting point is used, while the weight of the running platform is several tens kilograms. Thereby, the pivotal connection of the supporting point easily breaks. The other is that each time, it is desired to fold the running platform, the lifting device must is actuated, and then the driving device is used. The running platform then stands up so that the telescopic rod is extended to a length equal that from the running platform to the base. When it is desired to flatly place the running platform, above actuating and lifting operation is repeated so as to operate the running platform. Therefore, each time folding and flatly disposing the running platform, the lifting device must be actuated, as a result more power is consumed. Moreover, if in that operation, the pivotal point breaks, while the operator has no further hand to turn the power of the lifting device, it is possible that the operator will be harmed. It is often that above defects can not be found with a short time period, thus the consumer must suffer the damage themselves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a folding device of a running exercise machine comprising a first moveable linkage and a second moveable linkage which are symmetrically arranged. Front ends of the first moveable linkage and second moveable linkage are symmetrically arranged at a front ends of the two plates at two sides of a bottom of a front frame of the running platform as movable fulcrums. The rear ends of the first moveable linkage and second moveable linkage are symmetrically and pivotally installed to predetermined positions at an inner side of the lower rod of the base as two fixed fulcrums. When the running platform is folded or flatly arranged, by the movable fulcrums and fixed fulcrums, the force applied is dispersed.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding device of a running exercise machine comprising a first moveable linkage and a second moveable linkage which are symmetrically arranged and a lift motor; a rear end of the first moveable linkage and a pivotal connecting place between one end of the lift motor and the base are used as fixed fulcrums; two pivotal connections between the front and rear ends of first moveable link, the lift motor drives a screw rod to rotate by a motor so that a screw rod sleeve engaged with the screw rod can move telescopically; characterized in that:

[0006] one end of the lift motor is firmly secured a front end of a bottom of the running platform; another end thereof is movably pivotally to the transversal rod of the base, ;therefore, by a single lift motor, the running platform can be folded automatically and be lifted.

[0007] The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the running exercise machine of the present invention being placed flatly.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the folding operation of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a partial lateral view of the running exercise machine of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the folding operation of FIG. 4.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the folding operation of the running exercise machine is illustrated.

[0014]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the parts of FIG. 6.

[0015]FIG. 8 is a lateral view showing the lifting operation of FIG. 6.

[0016]FIG. 9 is a lateral view showing the folding operation of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the folding device of a running exercise machine is installed between the base 10 of a running exercise machine 100 and a running platform 20 so that the running platform 20 is foldable. The folding device mainly includes a first moveable linkage 41 and a second moveable linkage 42 which are symmetrically arranged. Front ends of the first moveable linkage 41 and second moveable linkage 42 are symmetrically arranged at the front ends of the two plates 21 at two sides of the bottom of the front frame of the running platform 20 as movable fulcrums A and B. The rear ends of the first moveable linkage 41 and second moveable linkage 42 are symmetrically and pivotally installed to predetermined position at an inner side of the lower rod 12 of the base 10 as fixed fulcrums D and E. When the running platform 20 is folded or flatly arranged, by the movable fulcrums A and B and fixed fulcrums D and E, the force applied can be dispersed. Other than easily detaching, the movable fulcrums A and B may increase or reduce the destroy in pivotal connection. An oil pressure rod 30 (or air pressure rod) is added between the running platform 20 and the base 10. One end of the oil pressure rod 30 is pivotally installed at the distal transversal rod 11 of the base 10. Another end thereof is pivotally at a bottom of the running platform 20 for providing an auxiliary power for folding or flatly arranged the running platform 20. Moreover, the length fo the first moveable linkage 41 is shorter than that of the second moveable linkage 42. Therefore, when the running platform 20 is folded toward a front end of the base 10. The running platform 20 may be longitudinally arranged or arranged with an angle over 90 degrees.

[0018] As described above, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of the folding device of a running exercise machine of the present invention is illustrated. A lift motor 50 is displaced between the running platform 20 of the running exercise machine 100 and the base 10. Therefore, by the lift motor 50, the running platform 20 has the function of folding and lifting automatically.

[0019] The lift motor 50 drives a screw rod 52 to rotate by a motor 51.so that a screw rod sleeve 53 engaged with the screw rod 52 may move telescopically. One end of the lift motor 50 is firmly secured a front end of the bottom of the running platform 20. Another end thereof is movably pivotally to the transversal rod 11 of the base 10.

[0020] Furthermore, after the lift motor 50 is actuated, if it is desired to cause that the running platform 20 has a function of automatically adjusting lift angle. A rear end of the second moveable linkage 42, i.e., the pivotal connecting place with the bottom rod of the base 10, is extended with a long hole 421 so that the second moveable linkage 42 can act with the running platform 20 as desired so that it can move telescopically.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 8, when the lift motor 50 is actuated and the screw rod sleeve 53 moves backwards, only the first moveable linkage 41 and the lift motor 50 supports the place between the running platform 20 and the base 10. Therefore, the rear end of the first moveable linkage 41 and the pivotal connecting place between one end of the lift motor 50 and the base 10 are used as fixed fulcrums D and E. Two pivotal connections between the front and rear ends of first moveable linkage 41 and another end of the lift motor 50 and the running platform 20 are used as movable fulcrums A and B. The second moveable linkage 42 moves backwards with the long hole 421 at the rear end thereof. Therefore, force applied on front end of the running platform 20 can be dispersed by the fixed fulcrums D and E and the movable fulcrums A and B. Thus, it is adjusted stagelessly. Referring to FIG. 9, when the lift motor 50 is actuated, so that the screw rod sleeve 53 moves forwards, the first moveable linkage 41, second moveable linkage 42 and the lift motor 50 serves to support the placed between the running platform 20 and the base 10. That is, three fixed fulcrums D, E and F are formed between base 10 and the rear ends of the first moveable linkage 41, and second moveable linkage 42 and one end of the lift motor 50. Furthermore, movable fulcrums A, B, and C are formed between the first moveable linkage 41, second moveable linkage 42, lift motor 50 and the running platform 20. Therefore, the running platform 20 may be pushed forwards for folding by the fixed fulcrums D, E and F and the movable fulcrums A, B and C.

[0022] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding device of a running exercise machine comprising a first moveable linkage and a second moveable linkage which are symmetrically arranged; wherein front ends of the first moveable linkage and second moveable linkage are symmetrically arranged at front ends of the two plates at two sides of a bottom of a front frame of the running platform as movable fulcrums; the rear ends of the first moveable linkage and second moveable linkage are symmetrically and pivotally installed to predetermined positions at an inner side of the lower rod of the base as two fixed fulcrums; when the running platform is folded or flatly arranged, by the movable fulcrums and fixed fulcrums, the force applied is dispersed.
 2. The folding device of a running exercise machine as claim in claim 1, wherein the first moveable linkage is shorter than that of the second moveable linkage.
 3. The folding device of a running exercise machine as claim in claim 1, wherein an oil pressure rod or an air pressure rod is added between the running platform and the base.
 4. A folding device of a running exercise machine comprising a first moveable linkage and a second moveable linkage which are symmetrically arranged and a lift motor; a rear end of the first moveable linkage and a pivotal connecting place between one end of the lift motor and the base are used as fixed fulcrums; two pivotal connections between the front and rear ends of first moveable link, the lift motor drives a screw rod to rotate by a motor so that a screw rod sleeve engaged with the screw rod moves telescopically; characterized in that: one end of the lift motor is firmly secured a front end of a bottom of the running platform; another end thereof is movably pivotally to the transversal rod of the base, ;therefore, by a single lift motor, the running platform is folded automatically and be lifted.
 5. The folding device of a running exercise machine as claim in claim 4, wherein a long hole is formed at a connection of a rear end of the second moveable linkage and the base, thereby, the second moveable linkage retracts with the action of the running platform.
 6. The folding device of a running exercise machine as claim in claim 4, wherein when the lift motor is actuated and the screw rod sleeve moves backwards, only the first moveable linkage and the lift motor supports the place between the running platform and the base; therefore, a rear end of the first moveable linkage and the pivotal connecting place between one end of the lift motor and the base are used as fixed fulcrums; two pivotal connections between the front and rear ends of first moveable linkage and another end of the lift motor and the running platform are used as two movable fulcrums; the second moveable linkage moves backwards with the long hole at the rear end thereof; therefore, a front end of the running platform is lifted backwards to be placed along a tilt angle so that it is adjusted stagelessly.
 7. The folding device of a running exercise machine as claim in claim 4, wherein when the lift motor is actuated, the screw rod sleeve moves forwards, the first moveable linkage, second moveable linkage and the lift motor serves to support the placed between the running platform and the base; that is, three fixed fulcrums are formed between base and the rear ends of the first moveable linkage, and second moveable linkage and one end of the lift motor; movable fulcrums are formed between the first moveable linkage, second moveable linkage, lift motor and running platform; therefore, the running platform is pushed forwards for being folded by the fixed fulcrums and the movable fulcrums. 